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gentry； nor anything at all to equal the servility of the
population that dwells in their neighbourhood。 Though I was but
driving in a hired chaise； word of my destination seemed to have
gone abroad； and the women curtseyed and the men louted to me by
the wayside。 As I came near； I began to appreciate the roots of
this widespread respect。 The look of my uncle's park wall； even
from the outside； had something of a princely character； and when I
came in view of the house itself； a sort of madness of vicarious
vain…glory struck me dumb and kept me staring。 It was about the
size of the Tuileries。 It faced due north； and the last rays of
the sun； that was setting like a red…hot shot amidst a tumultuous
gathering of snow clouds； were reflected on the endless rows of
windows。 A portico of Doric columns adorned the front； and would
have done honour to a temple。 The servant who received me at the
door was civil to a fault … I had almost said； to offence； and the
hall to which he admitted me through a pair of glass doors was
warmed and already partly lighted by a liberal chimney heaped with
the roots of beeches。
'Vicomte Anne de St。 Yves；' said I； in answer to the man's
question； whereupon he bowed before me lower still； and stepping
upon one side introduced me to the truly awful presence of the
major…domo。 I have seen many dignitaries in my time； but none who
quite equalled this eminent being； who was good enough to answer to
the unassuming name of Dawson。 From him I learned that my uncle
was extremely low； a doctor in close attendance； Mr。 Romaine
expected at any moment； and that my cousin； the Vicomte de St。
Yves； had been sent for the same morning。
'It was a sudden seizure； then？' I asked。
Well； he would scarcely go as far as that。 It was a decline； a
fading away； sir； but he was certainly took bad the day before； had
sent for Mr。 Romaine； and the major…domo had taken it on himself a
little later to send word to the Viscount。 'It seemed to me； my
lord；' said he； 'as if this was a time when all the fambly should
be called together。'
I approved him with my lips； but not in my heart。 Dawson was
plainly in the interests of my cousin。
'And when can I expect to see my great…uncle； the Count？' said I。
In the evening； I was told； in the meantime he would show me to my
room； which had been long prepared for me； and I should be expected
to dine in about an hour with the doctor； if my lordship had no
objections。
My lordship had not the faintest。
'At the same time；' I said； 'I have had an accident： I have
unhappily lost my baggage； and am here in what I stand in。 I don't
know if the doctor be a formalist； but it is quite impossible I
should appear at table as I ought。'
He begged me to be under no anxiety。 'We have been long expecting
you；' said he。 'All is ready。'
Such I found to be the truth。 A great room had been prepared for
me； through the mullioned windows the last flicker of the winter
sunset interchanged with the reverberation of a royal fire； the bed
was open； a suit of evening clothes was airing before the blaze；
and from the far corner a boy came forward with deprecatory smiles。
The dream in which I had been moving seemed to have reached its
pitch。 I might have quitted this house and room only the night
before； it was my own place that I had come to； and for the first
time in my life I understood the force of the words home and
welcome。
'This will be all as you would want； sir？' said Mr。 Dawson。 'This
'ere boy； Rowley； we place entirely at your disposition。 'E's not
exactly a trained vallet； but Mossho Powl； the Viscount's
gentleman； 'ave give him the benefick of a few lessons； and it is
'oped that he may give sitisfection。 Hanythink that you may
require； if you will be so good as to mention the same to Rowley； I
will make it my business myself； sir； to see you sitisfied。'
So saying； the eminent and already detested Mr。 Dawson took his
departure； and I was left alone with Rowley。 A man who may be said
to have wakened to consciousness in the prison of the Abbaye； among
those ever graceful and ever tragic figures of the brave and fair；
awaiting the hour of the guillotine and denuded of every comfort； I
had never known the luxuries or the amenities of my rank in life。
To be attended on by servants I had only been accustomed to in
inns。 My toilet had long been military； to a moment； at the note
of a bugle； too often at a ditch…side。 And it need not be wondered
at if I looked on my new valet with a certain diffidence。 But I
remembered that if he was my first experience of a valet； I was his
first trial as a master。 Cheered by which consideration； I
demanded my bath in a style of good assurance。 There was a
bathroom contiguous； in an incredibly short space of time the hot
water was ready； and soon after； arrayed in a shawl dressing…gown；
and in a luxury of contentment and comfort； I was reclined in an
easy…chair before the mirror； while Rowley； with a mixture of pride
and anxiety which I could well understand； laid out his razors。
'Hey； Rowley？' I asked； not quite resigned to go under fire with
such an inexperienced commander。 'It's all right； is it？ You feel
pretty sure of your weapons？'
'Yes； my lord；' he replied。 'It's all right； I assure your
lordship。'
'I beg your pardon； Mr。 Rowley； 'but for the sake of shortness；
would you mind not belording me in private？' said I。 'It will do
very well if you call me Mr。 Anne。 It is the way of my country； as
I dare say you know。'
Mr。 Rowley looked blank。
'But you're just as much a Viscount as Mr。 Powl's； are you not？' he
said。
'As Mr。 Powl's Viscount？' said I； laughing。 'Oh； keep your mind
easy； Mr。 Rowley's is every bit as good。 Only； you see； as I am of
the younger line； I bear my Christian name along with the title。
Alain is the VISCOUNT； I am the VISCOUNT ANNE。 And in giving me
the name of Mr。 Anne； I assure you you will be quite regular。'
'Yes； Mr。 Anne；' said the docile youth。 'But about the shaving；
sir； you need be under no alarm。 Mr。 Powl says I 'ave excellent
dispositions。'
'Mr。 Powl？' said I。 'That doesn't seem to me very like a French
name。'
'No； sir； indeed； my lord；' said he； with a burst of confidence。
'No； indeed； Mr。 Anne； and it do not surely。 I should say now； it
was more like Mr。 Pole。'
'And Mr。 Powl is the Viscount's man？'
'Yes； Mr。 Anne；' said he。 'He 'ave a hard billet； he do。 The
Viscount is a very particular gentleman。 I don't think as you'll
be； Mr。 Anne？' he added； with a confidential smile in the mirror。
He was about sixteen； well set up； with a pleasant； merry； freckled
face； and a pair of dancing eyes。 There was an air at once
deprecatory and insinuating about the rascal that I thought I
recognised。 The